Christmas and New Year Blessings from us to you

My MESSAGE FOR THE NEW YEAR 1st posted 31 12 07
OLD TESTAMENT READING 1 Samuel 2:1-10
NEW TESTAMENT READING Romans 7:15-25
THE MESSAGE
As we ring in the New Year with festive spirit with joy and anticipation, this is good- But, it is also a time to reflect on the past and prepare for the future.
We have some wonderful worship songs and encouragements in our service that cheer us on to be the people the body of Christ that he wants of us and due to Him.
We are reminded in our Old Testament Reading 1 Samuel 2:9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
The Word of God encourages us that he will keep us. 
In our New Testament Reading Romans 7 Is about a tug of war in oneself to do right and that which is good. God has given us the gift of choice and the gift of reason.
Why the need to be so serious? 
The end of time is near - and our enemy has turned up the heat .We only need to look around us or turn on the news. He is stalking us like a lion, waiting for an opportunity to pounce. He wants to devour us - to utterly destroy our faith in Christ. But we have good news to bring Our God reigns! Hallelujah
The idea of eternity is a hard one to grasp. It's difficult to wrap the human mind around the concept. But God still wants His children to have an eternal perspective. 
Throughout Scripture, He stresses Christ's second coming to help us think about our life in timeless terms. Realizing that Jesus could return at any time forces the Church keep the proper focus. 
The apostle Peter warns, "The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer" (4:7). He is saying, in other words, "This is no time for lightness. You have to get sober-minded about spiritual matters. 
It is an issue of life and death."
your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world" (1 Peter 5:8-9).
As a member of the body of Christ, get ready to face the devil. 
You may not want to think about it but if you have determined to follow Jesus with all your heart,
you are in the battle against principalities and powers (spirits)
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 
How do we overcome? 
John gives us the answer in Revelation 12: "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony" (Revelation 12:11). He has given us authority as a joint heir with Christ and cast out demons (Mark 3:15)
We are winning God’s tug of war when we look in the mirror and know we are living a Christian life. A life that we are proud of and a life that we can share with others and a life that is true to the word of God given us by the Holy spirit. A life that is blessed by the Holy Spirit. 
We need to look with perspective and we need to understand God’s love for us and try as best we can to win against sin. In this passage of Romans the writer has self-hatred for the sin in himself and knows the conflict that people deal with. But with healthy perspective we are allowed to fail and still be loved by God – we may be at a tug of war with ourselves but the very fact that God loves us unconditionally, even with our sins, gives us hope and a reason to keep trying to win the war against sin.
In Colossians 3:2, Paul reminds us to set our minds on heavenly things rather than on the things of earth. We walk through the material world. But we're to make decisions about where we spend our time, money, and energy by considering their long-term impact. The most important decision we make is to obey God's call to evangelize.
In every human being is the need to be needed it gives us a sense of self-worth and reason for living. Corrie ten Boom said: when she was 5 years old and received Jesus as her Saviour,her mother said to her 'Corrie now you are an intercessor' And she found that people living around her home needed her prayers. What a great way for a little child to find her self-worth.

You may not feel gifted in any way and maybe life has robbed you of your feeling of self-worth, be encouraged your a child of the King and he loves to hear from you. He is interested in every little detail of your life.
He interceeds on your behalf, your concern and compassion for others in prayer are precious jewels.
So go forward in life doing your best praying at all times
And Remember God's love can dispel sorrow, help a broken heart, and give us a great assurance that the love of God is real and His Holy spirit the Comforter will help us.
That on that great day when we meet our Saviour face to face we will hear 
well done good and faithful servant.
May God add his Blessing Elaine <>< <>< <>< 
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OLD TESTAMENT READING
1 Samuel 2:1-10
1And Hannah prayed, and said,
My heart rejoiceth in the LORD,
mine horn is exalted in the LORD;
my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies;
because I rejoice in thy salvation.
2There is none holy as the LORD:
for there is none besides thee:
neither is there any rock like our God.
3Talk no more so exceeding proudly;
let not arrogancy come out of your mouth:
for the LORD is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
4The bows of the mighty men are broken,
and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
5They that were full have hired out themselves for bread;
and they that were hungry ceased:
so that the barren hath borne seven;
and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
6The LORD killeth, and maketh alive:
he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
7The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich:
he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
8He raiseth up the poor out of the dust,
and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill,
to set them among princes,
and to make them inherit the throne of glory:
for the pillars of the earth are the LORD's,
and he hath set the world upon them.
9He will keep the feet of his saints,
and the wicked shall be silent in darkness;
for by strength shall no man prevail.
10The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces;
out of heaven shall he thunder upon them:
the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth;
and he shall give strength unto his king,
and exalt the horn of his anointed. 

NEW TESTAMENT READING
Romans 7:15-25
The Problem of Indwelling Sin
15For that which I do, I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 
16If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 
17Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 
18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 
19For the good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 
20Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 
22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 
24O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 
25I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; 
but with the flesh the law of sin.
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The Baby who was born in a manger in Bethlehem, will soon crush satan under our feet, and wipe every tear from our eyes. 


Love and Blessings


Elaine.